4th Graders Writing in SCRIPT!?!

momx6 ↓

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 8:32 pm

Why do 4th grade boys have to write in script? My ds hates it, has such a hard time...
Is it so useful anymore to know how to write in script? Nowadays, everyone uses computers anyways?

I'm really going nuts with him.

Please give me some practical advice At wits end

TIA

Happy18

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 9:24 pm

Maybe get him a practice book. Try the handwriting without tears one, a lot of OT's have recommended it.

amother ↓

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 9:40 pm

I learnt how to write script in 3rd grade and our school was really really not for "high achievers"

↑ momx6 ↓

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 9:56 pm

op here
This is my question: Is there really a point in driving him crazy to write script if he will never ever use it in real life? Should I just ask his teacher to exempt him-its causing alot of stress!

B"H

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 9:59 pm

don't know what to tell you regarding whether it's useful or not, but this IS the norm- you shouldn't think the school/ teacher is crazy.

MaBelleVie

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 9:59 pm

Why is it causing so much stress? If he finds it harder than other kids do, he will probably gain from practicing this skill. It may strengthen him in different ways. I really can't see a teacher exempting a child from learning cursive unless there was an underlying disorder that seriously interfered. How will he sign his name? In print??!!

imasinger

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 10:03 pm

Two relevant questions -- How has he done at learning Hebrew script? (if he mastered that, then he may be able to master English script, even though it seems painful for him now.) And when he gets past Bar Mitzvah, is he likely to be in an environment that would support an alternative method of note-taking, like a word processor in class?

One of the advantages of script is that it is faster than printing, which is important for taking notes in high school and up. It's also useful for signing one's name like a grownup someday.

If script is something he will need for the future, he may need to tough it out, and get some help. If it isn't, then maybe it's worth it to have that conversation with his teacher.

Mommy3.5

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 10:16 pm

I have a fourth and fifth grade boys, they are expected to do the same. I think emphasis on handwriting is very important, and by asking your son be exempt, you would be doing a great disservice to him.

I doubt the teacher will exempt him, I am sure he is not the only one to find a new way of writing hard. you should be encouraging him, not allowing him to believe he will never use cursive writing. It would be really silly if he signs his rent checks, or his kids tuition checks in block print....or any of his future business contracts.

ElTam

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 10:22 pm

My kids learn script in second grade. I agree with what the other posters said. It's necessary for writing notes, making lists, signing documents, etc.

Maybe get a chart that lists the block and script equivalents and hang it where he does his homework?
Flashcards?
If he learned block, he can learn script. A lot of the letters are virtually the same.

Laughing Bag!

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 10:42 pm

I learnt it in 3rd never caught on properly and usually write regularly I have a hard time reading script because of this. oh in school when it was mandatory I wrote exactly how I learnt it but it took me really long.

now I use my computer most of the time Wink

Simple1

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 10:48 pm

Maybe you can talk to the teacher to make her aware of your son's struggles. So your son won't be exempt, but as long as he tries his best, the teacher may go easy on him.

↑ amother

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 10:55 pm

Knowing script is important. My dh never really learned script. He can't read it. His boss writes things down for him and he has to ask someone to read it to him. Someone wrote him a long thank you letter and I read it to him. When I have to write something and I don't want him to see what I'm writing, I write in script.

Besides, even if this teacher would let him write in print, next year's teacher probably won't. Helping him learn it properly now will make life easier for him later on.

Mon, Sep 19 2011, 11:25 pm

Yes, it's important.

I agree with an above poster to try Handwriting Without Tears. Ask the teacher not for an exemption from script, but from the specific style taught in the school (HWT uses a distinctive block style). HWT takes only 10 minutes a day at home - the method specifically does not recommend lots of repetitive practice - and worked wonders for us.

lamplighter ↓

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 12:49 am

Actually in the US it's being phased out of the curriculum because it is not used anymore. Most things are typed or if they need to be handwritten the instructions are "please PRINT clearly". I agree that kids need to be able to READ script at least for the next while but they do not need to write it. Ask around the younger generation, fewer and fewer people write in script any more.

Just FYI.

Marion ↓

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 4:20 am

You have to PRINT clearly for government forms, but it's nice to get a hand-written thank you note for bar mitzvah (and wedding) gifts. He needs to learn.

AlwaysGrateful

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 10:12 am

This is so strange. Marion, I printed my thank you notes. You wouldn't have appreciated it printed? Sorry, that's how I write.

I never wrote script well, and my regular handwriting wasn't great either. No, I do not see the point in learning how to write script (reading it is necessary, of course) today, especially in our kids' generation. However, I also don't know why it's important for a child to learn trigonometry if they won't be going into a math field, or to learn which countries in South America export different minerals.

But if my kid was supposed to learn those things, I wouldn't exempt them. Barring a specific disability or similar reason.

HindaRochel

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 11:43 am

We were discussing this at work today (or yesterday). Script is definitely going out of style, as others have said. Envelopes btw are best addressed in print, not script, as it makes it easier for the postman to deliver.

And nicely printed letters are easier to read by everyone (who speaks that language). I use to penpal and I would have such a difficult time with some people's writing even if their writing wasn't chicken scratching.

DrMom ↓

Tue, Sep 20 2011, 11:47 am

I would think that kids would learn script well before 4th grade. And yes, I still think it's necessary. It's good to know how to tell time on an analog clock too.